Getting Your Car Ready for Summer with These Top Maintenance Tips

The hot, dusty driving condition during the Arizona summer will take a toll on your vehicle. You can lessen that toll by keeping up with routine auto maintenance. Visit a Phoenix, Arizona auto repair shop to be certain your vehicle is ready for the harsh summer ahead. Taking these steps now may prevent even more costly repairs later on. Here are some summer maintenance tips.

Check the Cooling System and Other Fluids

The number one reason cars breakdown in the summer is overheating. The level and the concentration of coolant must be checked regularly. Read your owner’s manual to find the recommended concentration of coolant. It’s most often a mixture of half antifreeze and half water. Never try to get by without the proper concentration, your car will overheat. The job of your coolant is to lower the boiling point of the water in your radiator. FYI: if your vehicle does overheat, it is crucial that you pull over and turn it off immediately in order to prevent severely damaging your engine.

In addition, your owner’s manual will tell you how often your cooling system should be completely flushed by your local mechanic.

Your auto repair shop should also check the condition of your radiator hoses and clamps and check any other fluid levels, such as transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid.

Change the Oil

Most Phoenix, AZ mechanics agree that the most essential step in auto maintenance is changing theoil and filter. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often to change your oil and what type of oil to use.Although it is recommended that older vehicles have the oil changed after 5000 miles, newer vehicles can often go 7500 miles. The bottom line is that in the Arizona heat and dust it wouldn’t hurt to change your oil more often. Engine oil lubricates every moving part in the entire engine, and without it your engine will seize up and be destroyed. Every good auto repair shop will change the oil filter each time they change the oil. They should also check other filters, such as the air filter, fuel filter, and the cabin air filter. The Arizona desert is a dusty place.

Have your Tires Checked

Many people don’t realize that their tires require more attention than other parts of their vehicle. You should have your tire pressure checked once a month. If you know how to do this yourself, it’s best performed while your tires are cold, before driving. Be sure to check the tire pressure on your spare while you’re at it. Your tire pressure will affect your gas mileage, steering, and ability to stop. There is a sticker inside the driver’s door pillar that will tell you the correct PSI for your tires if they are stock, but if they are different than the OEM, go by the PSI on the tire itself.

You should have your tires rotated approximately every 5000 miles. In between time, inspect your tires for signs of wear, nicks, or low tread. If you see uneven wear, or cupping, you may be in need of an alignment. Again, don’t forget to inspect your spare tire and be certain that you have a working jack.

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Have Your Brakes Inspected

Your owner’s manual will tell you how often your brakes should be replaced, but your owner’s manual isn’t familiar with the type of driving you do. There is a great deal of difference between highway driving and the stop and go of city driving.

Listen when you apply your breaks, if you hear any unfamiliar noises, such as squealing or grinding, or if you notice your brakes pulsating, or if the front end shakes when you apply your brakes, these are all signs that you need to have your brakes inspected immediately.

When you are driving down the street not using your brakes, if you hear a steady high-pitched squealing this is called a ‘wear noise’. It is built in by the manufacturer to be a signal for you that you need new brakes.

Have Your Battery Checked

The summer heat is also very hard on car batteries. Since the only way to determine the strength of your battery is with professional equipment, have your local Tempe mechanic check it out for you. Your vehicle’s battery contains both acid and water, and the Arizona heat is famous for boiling that water away.

Inspect the Windshield Wipers

That hot summer sun is very destructive to the rubber blades on your windshield wipers. If you see any nicks or tears, or if you notice that they are not clearing your windshield as well as they used to it’s time to have them changed. While you’re at it see that the windshield washer fluid is full.

Care for the Interior and Exterior

If interior parking is not available to you, seek out shady parking places as often as possible. You can also purchase a car cover. Waxing your car a couple of times a year can help protect your paint and preserve your color. The hot summer sun can oxidize exterior paint and cause fading and cracking of interior surfaces.

Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive

Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive would like to meet all of your car care needs. Whether you need routine maintenance to keep your vehicle in top condition or whether you need complex repairs, such as replacing or rebuilding an engine or transmission, Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive is the place to go. We are a family owned and operated business, we employ professional ASE certified mechanics who stand behind their work, and we do it for much less than the dealerships.